143: Games of the Year 2024

143: Games of the Year 2024

Author: The Secret Lives of Games January 7, 2025 Duration: 3:15:18

The whole crew assembles to share our personal five favorite games of 2024, alongside picks from previous show guests and our listeners. Happy 2025!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Our GOTY picks (SPOILERS):

Doug:

Xenosphere

B3313 (Mario 64 mod)

Boku no Natsuyasumi 2

Slice & Dice 3.0

Caves of Qud

Sarah:

Velgress (from UFO 50)

Balatro

Bridge Command

Waxwing

Key of Dreams

Zach:

Astro Bot

Astro Bot

Astro Bot

Astro Bot

Astro Bot

Laura:

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Balloon SMP

Interstate 35

Games to play with babies / Zach's 2023 pick

Dress to Impress (Roblox)

Nick:

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Pseudoregalia

Paper Beast

Smart Ball

The Nest

Andy:

Hollow Knight

Pokemon TCG Pocket

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Astro Bot

Velgress (of UFO 50)

Rob:

Balatro

Moon Adventure

Barbuta (of UFO 50)

Slice & Dice 3.0

Caves of Qud

 

Show Notes:

Electron Dance piece/interview about Xenosphere

Dominic Tarason

action button reviews boku no natsuyasumi (2022)

The Boku Diaries

Into the Depths: Slice & Dice

Into the Depths: Caves of Qud

 

Other picks from guests and listeners:

UFO 50

Cryptmaster

Case of the Golden Idol DLCs

Fractal Block World

N++ Community Tab Project

Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip

10 hours of silence occasionally broken up by the Taco Bell bong

Fallout 4

Earth Defense Force 6

Rabbit and Steel

Rogue Legacy 2

The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls

Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom

Feldivek

Factorio

Playframes: How Do We Know We Are Playing? by Celia Pearce

Celeste

Pepper Grinder

Riven (2024)

Caves of Qud

Animal Well

Katamari Damacy

Leap Year

Arcs

MX Bikes

Karen Kavett's Gradient Cascade Puzzle 

Earthrise 1 in Melbourne

Cine2Nerdle Battles

Deadlock

 


Ever wonder what really happens between the initial spark of an idea and the final product you play? The Secret Lives of Games pulls back the curtain, offering a rare, unvarnished look at the creative journey. Each episode is built around a candid conversation with a game creator, moving far beyond simple promotion to explore the messy, beautiful, and often surprising realities of their work. You’ll hear about the late-night breakthroughs, the frustrating dead ends, and the personal philosophies that shape the games we love. This podcast is less about reviews or news and more about understanding the human effort behind the pixels and code. It’s for anyone who’s curious about the art and craft of game development, whether you’re a seasoned player, an aspiring designer, or simply fascinated by creative processes. Listen in for genuine stories about problem-solving, narrative design, artistic choices, and the intricate process of building interactive worlds. These are the detailed, behind-the-scenes discussions that reveal how games truly come to life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Secret Lives of Games
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